A loose internal electrical connection of the spa
heaters can overheat and ignite, posing a fire hazard. Watkins has received 31 reports of heaters on
these spas overheating, five of which resulted in a fire.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with Watkins Mfg. Corp. (a Masco company) and Therm Products (a
division of Caldesso), announced a voluntary recall of about 5,600 Hot Spring
Spas and Limelight Hot Tubs. A loose internal electrical connection of the spa
heaters can overheat and ignite, posing a fire hazard.
Watkins, doing business as Hot
Spring Spas and Limelight Hot Tubs, has received 31 reports of heaters on these
spas overheating, five of which resulted in a fire. No injuries have been
reported.
The spas were sold at independent
spa dealers nationwide from March 2011 to March 2012 for between $6,000 and
$12,000.
This recall includes the following
11 models of Hot Spring Spas and Limelight Hot Tubs brand spas installed with
Therm Products No-Fault Water Heaters: Aria, Envoy, Flair, Glow, Grandee,
Jetsetter, Prodigy, Pulse, Sovereign, Vanguard and Vista.
The recalled spas were
manufactured from March 2011 to December 2011 and were installed since October
2011. The date is represented by 2N, 3N, or 4N in the spa's seven to 10
alpha-numeric serial code. For example, xxx2N#### or xxx4N####, where
"xxx" represents a series of letters one to three characters long,
and "####" is a four-digit numerical sequence.
The model name and serial code are
printed on a label within the spa's equipment compartment, located behind a
removable panel on the side of the spa.
Consumers should immediately stop
using the recalled spas and shut off power to the spa unit, following
instructions provided in the owner's manual or by the Watkins-Therm Products
Response Hotline. Consumers should contact the Watkins-Therm Products Response
Hotline or their Watkins Mfg. spa dealer for a free replacement heater and
installation by a service technician. Watkins spa dealers are also contacting
all affected owners to schedule the free installation of a replacement heater.
It is illegal to resell or attempt
to resell a recalled consumer product.
For more information, contact the
Watkins-Therm Products Response Hotline at 855/226-1314 anytime or visit the
Therm Products' website atwww.thermproducts.comor the Watkins Mfg. website atwww.hotspring.com.
To see pictures of the recalled
product, go towww.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12211.html.
Source: Consumer
Products Safety Commission
Watkins, Therm Products recall spas due to fire hazard
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